Bullying and cyber bullying

Bullying is not tolerated at Deakin University.

Anti-bullying policies and procedures set out clear expectations of behaviour, including online activity and social media use, as well as everyone's rights and responsibilities to ensure a supportive, inclusive, fair and safe learning environment for all.

As a Deakin student

You have the right to:

study in an environment free from bullying

be respected and valued regardless of your personal characteristics or background

have opportunities to reach your full potential and participate in all aspects of university life

make a complaint if you are being bullied

protection from victimisation if you make a complaint.

You have the responsibility to:

treat your fellow students with dignity and respect

respect the opinions and beliefs of others

engage in appropriate and rational discussion in areas of disagreement

avoid any behaviour that may offend, humiliate, intimidate, exclude or cause injury to others.

Bullying is repeated, unreasonable behaviour directed towards a person or group, that creates a risk to health and safety.

Unreasonable behaviour means behaviour that a reasonable person, having regard to all the circumstances, would see as unreasonable, including behaviour that is victimising, humiliating, intimidating or threatening.

Repeated behaviour means an established pattern of behaviour and not a single incident.

Risk to health and safety includes risk to the mental or physical health of the person.

Bullying can occur between students, by a student towards a staff member, or by a staff member towards a student.

verbal or written abuse in emails or other forms of electronic communication, including abusive, insulting, belittling, intimidating or offensive language; spreading rumours; teasing; displaying offensive posters or graffiti

Once material is published online it creates a 'digital footprint' which can last indefinitely. Search engines will show posts years after their publication date and comments can be forwarded worldwide in seconds.

There is no such thing as a private social media site. Even if inappropriate posts are made after hours and on a personal computer or mobile phone, disciplinary action may result if a connection can be reasonably made between the post and study at Deakin.

This would be the case, for example, where a disparaging or threatening remark can be seen by other students and staff and reported to the target of the comment.

Case study

A small group of students were working together on a project. They socialised outside University as well as studying together.

Using a University computer, they created a Facebook group to support a lecture series.

When a disagreement occurred between members of the group, a series of abusive messages were exchanged and inappropriate images were posted online.

Other students were being affected by the dispute, which negatively influenced their learning and their health and wellbeing. The University's good reputation was also being affected.

The matter was raised with the Head of School and resulted in the person who was sending abusive messages being required to undertake coaching on bullying and appropriate behaviours.

The situation could also have resulted in formal disciplinary penalties being applied.

Consider addressing the issue directly

Telling someone that you find their behaviour inappropriate can be an effective way to resolve some concerns, especially where inappropriate behaviour is caused by ignorance or insensitivity rather than being deliberate.

If you take direct action to resolve bullying, try to:

stay calm

seek advice before acting on your complaint

be clear on the outcome you seek

focus on the behaviour, not the person

talk about the effects of the behaviour on you

make a clear request that the behaviour needs to stop.

In the first instance

If the behaviour is directed to you

Write details of the behaviour in your diary. Include the time, date, name of person(s), location, what was said, witnesses' names, etc.

Save all the evidence. Keep timed and dated records and copies of messages, photos, websites, texts or online conversations.

If the behaviour is cyber-bullying directed to you

Block and report – use online features to block messages. Keep copies and report the abuse to the eSolutions Service Desk and/or the owner of the Social Media site.

Deakin University will ensure that all complaints of bullying and cyber-bullying are treated in a sensitive, fair, and timely manner; that privacy and confidentiality of all parties is respected; and that people involved in all aspects of the resolution of complaints are protected from victimisation.

Penalties can be applied to perpetrators of bullying and cyber-bullying including formal disciplinary proceedings for misconduct.